The view of the open space in front of the club is reserved for parking vehicles (as mentioned on the board above the entrance). The quarters above the entrance are used by members of the club who currently live there. Interestingly, this space was once used as the servants' quarters. Nowadays, the club cannot afford to have servants.
Goans emigrated to Mumbai in search of better trade, education, and employment opportunities. Erivan Velho, a 26-year-old from the village of Deussua, is staying at the club where he is preparing for his exams. The Kudd offers students like Erivan a quiet place to stay and study away from the hustle of the city.
Kudds allows storage for left-over luggage at no extra cost. The trunks are neatly stacked on top of each other along the wall, saving floor space. With dwindling occupancy, nowadays more trunks vie for space in the corridors than actual guests staying there.
A garlanded portrait of Jesus greets visitors in the reception hall. The Latin phrase adveniat regnum tumm, written on the scroll above, translates as ‘May your kingdom come.’ This particular phrase is associated with Christ the King, referring to the idea of the Kingdom of God, where Christ is described as being seated at the right hand of God. In front of the portrait is a small figure of Mother Mary holding the infant Jesus.
Each guest is allowed one trunk for storage which contains their personal belongings. The trunks are labelled with family names or membership numbers for identification.
A short flight of steps connects the courtyard (now used for parking vehicles) to the front veranda. The balusters along the handrails feature the six-pointed Star of David motif, which also features on the parapet of the veranda. On either side of the staircase are squat pedestals, which may have supported statues or planters. The helical steps in the foreground lead to a side gate opening on the veranda.
The wide entrance and tall windows along the reception hall keep the interiors breezy and well-ventilated. The reception hall—the largest room in the club—is naturally illuminated by sunlight during the day. The building is west-facing, and light streaming in the late afternoon casts long shadows in the reception hall.
The lancet doors and windows have a distinctive pointed arch at the top. The windows feature fine tracery. Tracery is typically used as a decorative element in the upper part of Gothic windows (or screens, panels, and vaults), which are divided into sections of various proportions by a stone framework (wooden in this case).
Gothic architecture went through a revival in the late 19th century and became very popular in Mumbai through the works of architects like Frederick Stevens. The club building was likely built in or around the same period, which has certain Gothic revival elements. For example, a distinctive feature of the neo-Gothic architecture is the use of stained glass windows, which cast colourful light on the interior of the building.
Mr Antonio Barretto is the current manager of the Club of St. Anthony. A member of the club since 1973, he has a longstanding connection to the place. In 2013, he took up residence in the kudd and now manages its day-to-day affairs, keeping it operational.